Wagner…. The Spider in The Middle of A Very Large Web.Global Harvest Ministries, World Prayer Center, Wagner Leadership Institute, The Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders, The Apostolic Roundtable for Deliverance Ministers, International Coalition of Apostles (ICA)and John Kelly, The Wagner Leadership Institute

The Five-Fold Ministry: As said at the end of the last chapter, the Latter Rain brought in a new focus on the spiritual elements of Christianity including personal prophecy, the restoration of the five-fold ministry (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher) mentioned in Ephesians 4:11-12, and a different end time emphasis. It is believed that under the rule of these prophets and apostles, the church will be ''perfected'':

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

Enter C Peter Wagner and his New Apostolic Reformation

C. Peter Wagner, former professor of Church Growth at Fuller Theological Seminary School of World Mission, was briefly mentioned on Page 126 of The Purpose Driven Church, first published in 1995. In it Rick Warren talks about “Five Major Parachurch Movements”, saying [Emphasis Added]

“it is interesting to observe that most of the parachurch movements begun on the past forty years tend to specialize in one of the purposes of the church. From time to time God has raised up a parachurch movement to reemphasize a neglected purpose of the church”.

(Incidentally, the second movement Rick Warren mentions is The Discipleship/Spiritual Formations Movement, saying a “reemphasis on developing believers to full maturity has been the focus of this movement. Organizations such as the Navigators, Worldwide Discipleship, and Campus Crusade for Christ, and authors such as Waylon Moore, Gary Kuhne, Gene Getz, Richard Foster, and Dallas Willard have underscored the importance of building up Christians and establishing personal spiritual disciplines”.)

An October 2009 article on the Charisma Magazine web site entitled Last Days Fever, quotes C Peter Wagner.

“The Case for Dominion I can still remember prophecy teachers who tacked rows of charts and diagrams on the church wall and explained spell-binding details of the past, present and future. I cut my spiritual teeth on the Scofield Bible and devoured Hal Lindsey’s The Late Great Planet Earth. My seminary professors instructed me in pre-tribulationism and premillenialism. I quickly categorized anyone who disagreed as a “liberal.”

Now I look back on those days with a strange combination of regret and amusement. How is it that I was so wrong for so long? As I analyze my change, I can sum it up by admitting that I simply did not understand the kingdom of God… My favorite term is “dominion eschatology.” Why? Because Jesus did not give His Great Commission in vain.

The battle will be ferocious, and we will suffer some casualties along the way. However, we will continue to push Satan back and disciple whole nations. We are aggressively retaking dominion, and the rate at which this is happening will soon become exponential. The day will come when “‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever’” (Rev. 11:15, NKJV)! [01]

C Peter Wagner is closely associated with other stalwarts of the Kingdom/Dominion movement. A “synopsis of what was reported to be taught about the 'apostolic' at the last Colorado conference National School of the Prophets: January 28 -30, 1999” can be found on the web site harvestnet.org. It says the conference was

“…run and hosted by a group that have often been found together, announcing the dawning of a new age of apostles (Speakers such as: C. Peter Wagner, Paul Cain, Chuck Pierce, Cindy Jacobs, Bill Hamon, Dutch Sheets, Rick Joyner, Kingsley Fletcher, Mike Bickle, Jim Laffoon, Barbara Wentroble and Ted Haggard. [02]

Which makes it as good a time as any to introduce yet another of our modern day apostates, before returning to Wagner…

Bill Hamon, whohas been involved with C. Peter Wagner’s New Apostolic Reformation from the beginning. He is founder of Christian International Ministries, author of several books and, according to the Elijah List, “a prophet for more than 50 years… specializing in the restoration of the Church and what to expect next on God's agenda” [03].

He claims that in 1979, God challenged him “to add the "School of the Holy Spirit" to the Cl ministry. This "school" served as a "classroom ministry" to teach, train, and activate individuals in the gifts of the Holy Spirit”, and that three years later, in 1983, he “received the revelation that God was going to raise up a great end-time company of prophets to restore the ministries of the prophet and the apostle”. [04]

He also says that

“98 percent of Spirit-filled, born again Christians do not have any concept of the overall purpose of God for His Church” [05]

Which is absolutely no wonder since “98 percent of Spirit-filled, born again Christians” actually use the Bible as their handbook, and since they haven’t read any of this baloney in the Scriptures they are perfectly ignorant of it.. thankfully so. Remember this statement by Hamon, previously quoted in Part I of this article… [Emphasis Added]

See, you as an adult can drop down on the floor with a four-year-old and crawl and play and talk gooey gooey talk, but he can't elevate himself up to talk and fellowship on your level. I can drop back down and fellowship and talk with a Lutheran about justification of faith and Jesus, but if I try to get them on my level to speak in tongues or prophesy or move in gifts, I am taking to them beyond their growth, experiences and revelation. So we who are spiritual should restore those who are weak”. [05]

C Peter Wagner wrote the foreword to Hamon’s book Apostles, Prophets and the Coming Moves of God, which he describes as “a thrill to read”. About it Wagner says…[Emphasis Added]

As the name would imply, one of the chief features of the New Apostolic Reformation, setting it apart from the more traditional versions of Christianity, is the emerging recognition of the role of apostles on the Body of Christ. Because this is such a key to advancing the Kingdom of God and because the notion of contemporary apostles is s new to many of us, including myself, an urgent need of our times is wise and recognized leadership by those through whom God has been speaking and working along these lines for some time. Bill Hamon is one who God has raised up to meet this need”. [Foreword]

According to Hamon the Manifest Sons of God are the “last-day apostles and prophets”. [Emphasis Added]

The whole creation is waiting for the last generation Church. The earth and all of creation are waiting for the manifestation of God’s last-day apostles and prophets and fully restored Church. “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19 NKJV). When the Church is fully restored, then the saints will receive their final redemption, the immortalization of the mortal bodies” [06]

Bill Hamon also says that Jesus’ return is dependent on the church fulfilling it’s destiny.. [All Emphasis Added]

The apostles, along with the other four were given to the Church until it reaches the fullness of Christ’s ministry and maturity. Jesus cannot return to translate His church until it obtains and fulfills all that the prophetic scriptures declare. This will not be accomplished until the last decade of the mortal Church. Apostles play a vital role in this ministry to the Church (Acts 3:19-25). [07]

Unfortunately Hamon’s book begins to unravel right from page two with some of the most inventive interpretations of Scripture one can ever have the misfortune of coming across.

The Spider in The Middle of A Very Large Web.Perhaps, the most disturbing thing about Peter Wagner is that, although he is the founder of a large number of organizations and is allied with innumerable others, he has largely flown under the radar for a very long time. Wagner is called the "convener," at many Apostolic conferences, which clearly shows him to be the power behind the movement, yet it questionable as to how many Christians outside of this apostolic network even know he exists. In fact, he describes himself as a "horizontal apostle" which, in his words, is the one who brings other apostles and prophets together and when he brings them together “things happen”… “Because that’s an anointing that God has given to horizontal apostles”. [54]

It is a bit of a challenge to keep Wagner’s various networks straight, but here it is in a nutshell.

Global Harvest Ministries: Wagner is the founder of Global Harvest Ministries, established in 1991, the purpose of which is, in their words..[Emphasis Added]

“To catalyze and strengthen global forces for fulfilling the Great Commission; To serve the New Apostolic Reformation by engaging in whatever apostolic ministries may be necessary to stimulate, equip, encourage, network, and resource its leaders; To train Christian leaders in prayer, spiritual warfare, apostolic and prophetic ministries, signs and wonders, social transformation, and other aspects of practical ministry; [09]

Their web site also says they

“are looking forward to another year of gatherings which equip the Body of Christ for ministry and breakthrough. In a world where uncertainty seems to overtake our daily lives, we have purposed to offer four conferences in 2010 to help you find your footing and overcome every obstacle”.

The third of these conferences is scheduled for Sept 30 - Oct 2, 2010. Although, as of January 19th, both location and speakers were yet to be finalized, the conference has been named… “The Ark is Moving: Be Mobilized for War!” [9b]

World Prayer Center: Wagner’s partnering with Ted Haggard, who was then pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, resulted in the Peter and Doris Wagner moving to Colorado in 1996 and founding the World Prayer Center, which was completed and dedicated in 1998 on the property of Ted Haggard's charismatic New Life Church. (Chuck Pierce then assumed leadership role for Global Harvest Ministry).

In spite of this there are assertions that Ted Haggard has no formal association with the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) and it's International Coalition Of Apostles (ICA). However Peter Wagner who wrote the foreword to Ted Haggard’s book The Life Giving Church says [Emphasis Added]

Ted Haggard has now provided something that every new apostolic church leader has deeply desired; a practical operators manual, so to speak, for starting and running a church…

Wagner also says that he can personally affirm that “the advice in The Life Giving Church is good advice” Partly because he and his wife Doris …

“joined New Life Church when we moved from California to Colorado Springs. Ted Haggard is our pastor. I thought that our wonderful church is California would be hard to replace. But New Life Church has done it” [10]

(Read one account of the shenanigans of a visiting evangelist to New Life Church during Ted Haggard’s time..Hogan Not a Hero)

Incidentally, in 2005, Haggard was listed by Time magazine as one of the top 25 most influential evangelicals in America. [11], but it wasn’t long after that Ted Haggard described assertions that he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a 20-year-old male volunteer in 2006 as "fundamentally true".

Wagner Leadership Institute founded in 1998 by C. Peter Wagner is, according to them, “an international network of apostolic training centers established to equip the saints for kingdom ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12)… Students obtain a living, functioning impartation and activation from the Holy Spirit to walk in their divine destiny.” [12]

The Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders: is “a select group of prophets who needs to build personal relationships with other prophets of the same status. They are convened annually by C. Peter Wagner and meet once a year in Colorado Springs Colorado” [12b]. “During the last meeting of the Apostolic Council of Prophetic Elders (ACPE), held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Peter Wagner felt that it was time for him to pass on the mantle of leadership of the ACPE”. Accordingly Wagner asked Cindy Jacobs if she was willing “to take the leadership of this prophetic council”. In Cindy Jacob’s words

“I agreed—on one condition-—that both he and Doris stay on the ACPE and continue on our journey together into the new… What does that mean? From that point forward, I have been responsible for overseeing the administration for the meetings as we seek God together for the new wind of the Holy Spirit. [13]

New wind of the Holy Spirit? See ACPE's Word for 2005: http://www.praycolorado.org/ACP1.3.05.PDF

The Apostolic Roundtable of Deliverance Ministers (ARDM): Twenty-five other Apostles who have been invited to form an international leadership of Apostles. These roles are by invitation only. They meet regularly each year in Colorado Springs Colorado.

The International Society of Deliverance Ministers (ISDM) “was established in 2003 as an outgrowth of the Apostolic Roundtable of Deliverance Ministers (ARDM), founded in 2000. ARDM was originally convened, under the leadership of C. Peter Wagner, with the view of helping recognized deliverance ministers connect with each other, build personal relationships, learn from and encourage one another.” [13b].

International Coalition of Apostles (ICA) and John Kelly: described as a network of more than 5,000 churches in the United States alone [14] ICA “was conceived by a group of apostles who gathered informally in Singapore in 1999. John Kelly agreed to establish an office in Dallas, Texas, to organize a council and to begin to invite apostles to join ICA. He then asked C. Peter Wagner to assume overall leadership of ICA as “Presiding Apostle” [15]. The ICA used to say they were… “... the largest professional society of apostles known with nearly 500 apostles as active members who pay dues, attend an annual meeting, connect with each other, and provide mutual support and accountability. However this has been changed to

“ICA is designed to connect apostles’ wisdom and resources in order that each member can function more strategically, combine their efforts globally, and effectively accelerate the advancement of the Kingdom of God on earth. To maximize this effort, ICA is apostolically lead and prophetically influenced. ICA is currently the largest known professional Christian society of God-ordained and man-recognized apostles in the world today.[16]

While there no longer seems to be an online list of current ICA members, THIS page shows how many nations ICAL has formed, or is in the process of forming, national Coalitions in. It includes churches from all over the world in countries as diverse as Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Greece, Ghana, Iceland, Croatia, Italy, Japan, Indonesia, Nigeria, Poland, Malawi, Ireland and many more countries.

John Kelly was not only founding apostle of the International Coalition of Apostles (ICA), but he now serves as ICA’s “Ambassadorial Apostle”, who “convenes apostolic summits in different regions of the U.S. from time to time” [17]. John Kelly’s web site LEAD or Leadership Education for Apostolic Development says he… [All Emphasis Added]

“equips and strengthens Christians to build the Kingdom of God. Through institutes, conferences, marketplace seminars, roundtable summits and meetings, LEAD trains up End Time Warriors to understand their calling and fulfill their destiny. Today is the day to acquire wisdom, knowledge and understanding for a dynamic and successful life!” [18]

John P. Kelly is also the CEO of International ChristianWealthBuilders Foundation (ICWBF) a Christian ministry “committed to the education, training and mentoring of wealthbuilders to become wealth generators to become wealth distributors”. They claim

“ICWBF training is grounded on the Word of God. When a good man dies, he leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren; but when a sinner dies; his wealth is stored up for the godly. Proverbs 13:22” [19]

Incidentally International ChristianWealthBuilders Foundation’s Statement of Faith includes the following

“We believe that Christ Himself has bestowed upon certain men of His choosing the spiritual gifting of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers. These five offices constitute the eldership of the Church whose function is to cooperate in spiritually equipping and activating believers for effective service in every sphere of life, including the marketplace, political, education, media, arts, family and church. The work of the eldership is to establish spiritual unity and the priesthood of all believers in Christ. Their objective is to establish the Kingdom of God on earth.” [19]

The Wagner Leadership Institute has over 50 On-Demand Courses available! You can currently watch a one hour sample course session, which is invaluable in acquiring a basic understanding of the movement that Wagner has so effective catalyzed. Kicking off his lecture, Wagner tells the class:

“OK, first of all, I want to repeat something. You don’t have to write it down, because you already have it in your notes. But I want to remind you that the New Apostolic Reformation is the most radical change in the way of doing church since the Protestant Reformation. That’s what we’re dealing with”.

New Apostolic Reformation (NAR): Has been briefly described by two Christian ministries.. The first is by Apologetic Index [All Emphasis Added]

“Wagners latest excursion into aberrant and heretical expressions of Christianity is the promotion of apostles and the so-called New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) — a movement which asserts that God is restoring the lost offices of church governance, namely the offices of Prophet and Apostle. Leading figures in NAR suggest that these prophets and apostles alone have the power and authority to execute God’s plans and purposes on earth. They believe they are laying the foundation for a global church, governed by them…. [20]

and the second by Deception Bytes [All Emphasis Added]

The New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) sprang from the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement. They claim that they have been given authority to lay the foundation for the “new” global church. They believe they are restored apostles called and ordained by God to be the government for the emerging “New Order” church. In order to maintain this governance they stress strict obedience and submission to them in all matters. They claim they hear directly from God, and many claim that Jesus visits them in person. Like the true biblical apostles who established the early church, these so called restored apostles believe they are called to lay the foundation and government for the new Kingdom (one world church).

Their goal is complete and utter control of the church and subjugation of its current governance to them. They want power, dominion and total control. They truly believe that the world is awaiting fulfillment of a take over by a militant church (Joel’s Army) that will arise, govern and dominate the world politically and spiritually. This is a highly organized group with a global agenda. It has been well thought out, well strategized, and will be implemented with military precision. The grid is in place - our future is planned. [21]

And, as you will see, these two descriptions hit the nail on the head. For example, in an introduction to the New Apostolic Reformation, the web site of C Peter Wagner’s Global Harvest Ministries says… [Emphasis Added]

The New Apostolic Reformation is an extraordinary work of God at the close of the twentieth century, which is, to a significant extent, changing the shape of Protestant Christianity around the world. [22]

The advertising blurb of the Apostles and Prophets Conference in February 2000, included the following statement: [Bold Added]

“The New Apostolic Reformation is an extraordinary work of the Holy Spirit that is changing the shape of Christianity globally. It is truly a new day! The Church is changing. New names! New methods! New worship expressions. The Lord IS ESTABLISHING THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE CHURCH FOR THE NEW MILLENIUM. THIS FOUNDATION IS BUILT UPON APOSTLES AND PROPHETS…” [23]

If you happen to be one of those who 1) believes in these so called latter day apostles and prophets and 2) think strict obedience to them is called for, I suggest you read the next two sections of this article.

An article on the Talk to Action web site doesn’t seem to be too far off base (if at all) when they say..

Some of these Apostles also have hundreds or even thousands in their own networks. There are numerous other interconnected apostolic networks around the world tied to this movement by their common belief system and also interconnected activities, conventions, media, schools, and parachurch ministries. The New Apostolic Reformation is now a distinct entity with its own theology, apostolic networks, schools, school accreditation system, conferences, and media. The Apostolic structure, as defined by Wagner, provides a network of authority or "apostolic covering." Each of Wagner's approximately 500 Apostles has networks of their own, some claiming hundreds or even thousands of ministries under their authority. [25]

In his book Churchquake!: A Look at the Dramatic New Movement That Will Affect the Future of the Church [26] C. Peter Wagner states that the editor of World Christian Encyclopedia, David Barrett, told Wagner that by 1996 Barrett

“had over a thousand apostolic networks on his database, and he would estimate at that point considerably more than 100 million new apostolic adherents worldwide”.

Wagner goes on to quote Barrett as later saying

“Every time I do an approximate statistical count of this movement it seems bigger and bigger. We are sure to be startled out of our wits over the next few months”. [Pg. 47]

Wagner then presents statistics on several churches around the world.

Brazil: the fastest growing church is the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. Led by Edir Macedo it now numbers more than 3 million.

Lisbon, Portugal: Manna church led by Jorge Tadeu has a core of 25,000 members and has planted 22 new churches in Portugal. “It now has a cumulative membership of 75,000.

London: Kensington Temple pastored by Colin Dye is made up of 6000 people from 110 ethnic groups.

Budapest, Hungary: Faith Church pastored by Sandor Nemeth “counts 4,500 members but has a total constituency of 15,000.

Nigeria: Pastor E.A. Adeboye of the Redeemed Church of God network has built an open sided facility that measures 1km by .5 km. “On the first Friday of every month a crowd of 500,000 gathers from a dusk to dawn “Holy Ghost Night!”

Buenos Aires: The Waves of Love and Peace Church estimates some 150,000 members , purchased a 2,500 seat theater as a church facility and hold services 18 hours a day on weekdays. This expands to 23 hours a day on weekends. [Pgs. 47-48]

Wagner again quotes David Martin…

“Over the past thirty or so years the religious map of the world has changed dramatically…More often than not this shift is toward a Pentecostal faith in the gifts of the Holy Spirit… healing, tongues, exorcism, prophecy, holiness. Overall perhaps a quarter of a billion people are involved”.

and goes on to say that

“Many Christian leaders still have no idea that this movement even exists. Some have stereotypes that relegate it to the lunatic fringe of Christianity… Part of our inbred Western arrogance tends to evaluate whatever happens by using our own set of experiences and our own scale of values as the criteria. This much and will change. [Pg. 49]

In an article entitled The Trojan Horse In The Charismatic Movement, author Kenneth Uptegrove talks about watching a DVD on one of the apostolic conferences called, 2008, Staring the Year off Right. In it …

“Dutch Sheets spoke shamelessly about their (NAR) groups plans to take over. He showed a dotted map of the United States with hundreds of large and smaller dots spaced evenly across the country. He explained that the larger dots showed the apostolic hubs: the teaching and training centers they had already implemented. The smaller dots showed the individual apostles that had been put in place. Underneath the apostles, he explained, would be the individual churches that would be, a local expression of the global church. He stressed that we were no longer to think in terms of our local church but in terms of the Kingdom (buzz word for the coming one world church)”. [27]

And how does this huge renegade enterprise finance itself? With YOUR money of course.

Apostolic Reformation and TithingIn his book Dominion!: How Kingdom Action Can Change the World, C Peter Wagner quotes an obscure verse in Ecclesiastes 10:19, where Solomon says “Money answers everything”.

We have not taken such wisdom seriously enough. Three things, more than anything else, have changed society throughout history; violence, knowledge and wealth- and the greatest of these is wealth. Our churches have been under the spell of a spirit of poverty since the monastic movement began and this spirit must be broken in order for wealth to flow. Our most reputable prophets have prophesied a great transfer of wealth from the unrighteous to the Kingdom of God. .. God gives His people the power to get wealth (see Deuteronomy 8:1) [28]

Incidentally Deuteronomy 8:1 says

"All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to give to your forefathers.

I cannot imagine how Wagner figures the verse in Deuteronomy to be a general principal that God gives all His people (throughout history) power to get wealth. The land spoken about in Deuteronomy 8 was given to the people of Israel in fulfillment of the promise God made Abraham… "look from the place where you are, northward, southward, eastward and westward: For the entire land you are looking at I will give to you and to your descendants for ever" (Genesis 13:14, 15). The Lord was warning the people that they had to keep His commandments in order that they may prosper in their new home.

The verse has nothing to do with 21st century wealth.

In his book Church Quake! The Explosive Power of the New Apostolic Reformation, (Pgs. 260-262) C. Peter Wagner takes tithing to a whole new level. He states that he was “trained in the traditional mind-set in seminary” and assumed this was correct until his friend John Wimber “broke the mold” and told Wagner…

“If someone in my church comes to me with a suggestion as to the direction of the church, the first thing I do is to look up their giving records.”

When asked why, Wimber replied

“It is very important to me to know where their heart is before I know how much weight to attach to their suggestion. How can I tell where their heart is? Jesus said that where your treasure is, there your heart is also!”

Wagner goes on to say

“John Wimber is joined by most other apostolic pastors in concluding that giving to a cause is a biblical measuring scale for commitment to that cause. In their minds the amount, of course, is proportionate to the income level of their church members. How do they know the income level? It is simple. A good pastor knows the sheep.

A LITMUS TEST FOR LEADERSHIPWagner goes on to relate how he was “having breakfast with three new apostolic megachurch pastors from various parts of the country” and asked them about “accessing their church member’s giving records. And all three of them did”. “They looked at me as if to say, “Why are you asking such an obvious question?. I then went on and asked them how they used that information.

*Two of the three receive printouts each Monday of those who gave generously the day before. One asks for a list of those who gave $1,000 or more and the other of those who gave $2,500 or more. These individuals receive special attention.

*One uses it for counseling. If the records seem to indicate that an individual or family is not tithing, the pastor calls them in and talks to them about it. When I asked, “Why?” the pastor said, “Because they are under a curse [referring to Malachi 3:9], and my job as pastor is to help break any curse my people might be under”.

*All of them use it as a litmus test for lay leadership in the church. Individuals who are not generous in tithes and offerings are disqualified for leadership roles. Each of them said that all other new apostolic pastors they are aware of would agree on this point. |

*One uses it to recognize and honor large donors. Each year the church hosts a special banquet for their “Gideon’s Army”, meaning their largest donors.

Supposedly, many church members are more generous to parachurch ministries than to their own church because

“Parachurch leaders recognize and honor their most significant financial partners in ministry.”

Wagner goes on to say that he himself sees “a photocopy of every check that comes in to support the work” and that he prays “blessing on each donor, large and small”. However he says he pays “special attention to the large donors.”.

“I flag them and they receive a personal telephone call. We say, “How can we pray for you?” The upshot is that each one of them is assured that I, as president know their names and appreciate the crucial role they have in our ministry.”

And it gets better.. He then says

“I have heard that the couple who founded one of our large parachurch ministries in the United States personally spends a week a year is a luxury resort hosting it’s million-dollar donors.” [29]

Barf Bag Anyone?The first issue I have with the above is the statement that “apostolic pastors” realize the amount a person tithes is proportionate to their income level, and that they know the income level of their church members because “It is simple. A good pastor knows the sheep”.

I am afraid that even overlooking the asinine comment that a good pastor (shepherd) knowing his sheep is in any way related to finances, the rest of the statement is not quite as simple as it is made out to be. The term megachurch “generally refers to any Protestant congregation with a sustained average weekly attendance of 2000 persons or more in its worship services”. (Although some get much larger .. It is believed that Joel Osteen’s Lakewood is on course to be the first church to reach a membership of 35,000”).

And the pastor supposedly knows the financial state is every single one of that many people? It is far more likely that he has made it his business to find out which members of his congregation has the big bucks.

The second issue is with the idea of a curse being upon those that do not tithe at all, or not to the level that the “pastor” thinks is appropriate. This only shows the abysmal level of Biblical knowledge to which our so called leaders have fallen.

Tithing and The ScripturesWhen referring to the Scriptures in an effort to support the manipulation that passes as tithing in many of today’s churches, most teachers of the practice will round up the usual suspects… verses that are usually rendered out of context. For example, The tithe belongs to the Lord, or Will a man rob God? or The house of the Lord is neglected!

The following quotes are taken from Tithing Today: God's Plan or Designs of Man? …In which the author examines the primary scriptures used to finance American Christianity [Part I] and refutes the common arguments used to persuade believers that tithing is biblically required [Part II]. Note that this article is a serious Biblical study of the history and origins of tithing. Those who are content to base their beliefs on a few out of context Scriptures need not bother.

A familiar passage of Scripture frequently used in challenging Christians to greater spiritual, and sometimes material, reward is Malachi 3:8. Will a man rob God? is an often repeated "battle cry" delivered from pulpits across America. Unfortunately, this passage of Scripture is most often encountered during annual stewardship sermons or when a project or building needs financing. One thing seems relatively certain these days; a predominance of teaching from the prophet Malachi will often accompany a squeeze upon the pocketbook. When believers buy in to the bad teaching offered from the commonly misrepresented words of Malachi, they are often prevented from enjoying true Christian stewardship.

Manipulating people into following modern tithing doctrines seems to be motivated or inspired by one or more of the following: 1) greed; 2) the financial obligations or poor management of a given church or ministry; 3) the pride, ego, or need for recognition of the teacher (usually a pastor), e.g., the "kingdom building" sometimes associated with bigger buildings and flashy programs, and; 4) misplaced faith, i.e., faith in money or faith in a clever teaching to accomplish certain goals rather than faith in God.

One goal of this commentary is to liberate the Christian from mechanical, legalistic, and often coercive giving; however, the primary goal is to open evangelistic opportunities as individual believers learn to heed more closely biblical instruction by channeling their resources to places where need is greatest. Evangelistic opportunities will open when Christians develop habits of stewardship that follow scriptural patterns.

Perhaps the last word can go the Didache which is, in all probability, the oldest surviving piece of non-canonical literature. While, not part of the canon, in this case, it certainly hit the nail on the head.

"And every apostle who cometh among you, let him be received as the Lord; but he shall not remain more than one day; if, however, there be need, then the next day; but if he remain three days, he is a false prophet. But when the apostle departeth, let him take nothing except bread enough till he lodge again; but if he ask money, he is a false prophet." [30].

The Lunatic Fringe …Firmly Entrenched in Mainstream Churches.If you, by any chance, still think this movement is limited to the “lunatic fringe of Christianity”, let me remind you that we have already documented that organizations like The Coalition on Revival (COR), Pat Robertson and his Regent University, Promise Keepers, The Vineyard Churches, Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and American Vision are all heavily involved in the Dominionist movement. [See Section I: Basic Beliefs, Origins, Spread and Dominionism in Today’s World]

Now we would like to point you in a couple of different directions… 1) The Salvation Army and 2) The Wasilla Assembly of God church located in Alaska which, until quite recently, was home church to a now familiar face on the American political scene.. Sarah Palin.

The Salvation ArmyA December 200 Talk to Action article by Bruce Wilson says

“With an operating budget, in 2004, of 2.6 billion dollars, the Salvation Army is one of the largest providers of social services in the world. There's been some previous indication, during the last decade, that the religious culture of the Salvation Army, has been changing…. Now, the Salvation Army appeared to have developed a working relationship with C. Peter Wagner's New Apostolic Reformation. The War College, a recent Salvation Army creation with campuses in Chicago and Vancouver, British Columbia, "is affiliated with the Wagner Leadership Institute" and teaches doctrines of the New Apostolic Reformation”. [31]

Sadly this is completely true.. The website for the Vancouver campus of The War College declares,

"You may have heard of The Salvation Army's bold foray into radical battle schooling. The War College has been created to train this generation's warriors to win the world for Jesus… In the early 3rd millennium Christians are gathering each year at The War College in Vancouver. There, challenged by the Holy Spirit, they are consecrating themselves to the mission of world redemption. "

And a little further down the page is the Wagner Leadership Institute logo, with the words…

Students continuing their formation may select a Associate of Practical Ministry degree and continue with WLI in pursuit of their bachelor, master and doctorate degrees. [32]

The website of the War College's Chicago branch also features the Wagner Leadership Institute logo (below the video). The site says [All Emphasis Added]

“You will be immersed in essential subjects for warfare success, such as extreme holiness, warfare operations, spiritual disciplines, extreme prophetic, spiritual accountability, social justice, and apostolic leadership. You will receive the course content required for success in the future wars to which God appoints you…. You will be trained by successful Salvation Army leaders in evangelism, discipleship, intercession, the prophetic and other spiritual gifts, servanthood, cell multiplication, preaching, warfare worship and more. You will find yourself in the thick of the fight, right on front lines. [33]

The Salvation Army's leadership page features the so called prophetess who specializes in Linda Blair imitations. She outdid herself at Todd Bentley’s commissioning giving him the‘Keys to Europe’ andcomparing him to Jesus on the Cross. [See Todd Bentleys Circus Side Show From Hell ]

The Board of Reference features established leaders from around the world. These people offer input into the composition and operation of The War College. The Board consists of General Shaw Clifton, General Eva Burrows (R), General John Gowans (R), Commissioner Wesley Harris, Commissioner Phil Needham, Commissioner Joe Noland, Colonel Earl Robinson, Lieut-Colonel Don Copple, Lieut-Colonel David Grindle, Wesley and Stacey Campbell. [34]

Wasilla Assembly of God and the Juneau Christian ChurchSarah Palin is closely associated with at least two churches that have close ties to the leaders of the Dominionist movement. She was baptized in the Wasilla Assembly of God (WAG), a church she attended for more than two decades. However after becoming governor of Alaska, she also attended Juneau Christian Church in the capital, although continuing to maintain close ties with WAG and has attending special church events there.

Ed Kalnins is senior pastor at Wasilla Assembly of God, while Mike Rose is senior pastor of Juneau Christian Center. Mike Rose is said to have maintained a long standing relationship with Rodney Howard-Browne, the instigator of the outbreak of 'Holy Laughter' around the world, including the Toronto Airport Revival. Ed Kalnins’ sermons reflect his belief in, and teaching of, un-Biblical theological concepts such as the possession of geographic territories by demonic spirits and the transmission of family curses down through the generations. [See Chapter 6… Strategic Level Spiritual Warfare]

The Master’s Commission: The Wasilla Assemblies of God maintains a post high school program called the Master’s Commission. In their words it is a “9 month school of ministry/discipleship devoted to raising up young adults “To know God and to make Him Known” and “offer training in the prophetic gifts” [35].

Please Note that according to the Bible… Prophets were not chosen or elected by men, and they were not permitted to inherit the title. It was not an ‘official post’ that a man could be trained for. This is easily proved by reading every single instance of how and when each prophet was called.

It is reported that the Master’s Commission “uses curriculum designed by Steve Thompson, Francis Frangipane and John Bevere” and the “students flew from Alaska to participate in a prophecy conference led by Rick Joyner, Steve Thompson and Bob Jones at Morningstar Ministries” in 2008 [36]. Also that Steve Thompson, Head of Prophecy at Morningstar Ministries, has on occasion traveled to Wasilla to lead prophetic conferences.

While I can not confirm this, what is true is that the Master’s Commission site includes links to Francis Frangipane Ministries, Mike Bickle’s International House of Prayer (IHOP) site, and Rick Joyner’s Morningstar Ministries…all under the heading… “Here are some links that are important to us” [37]

Since much has been said in the various sections of this article about Rick Joyner and Francis Frangipane, I would like to take a moment to introduce John Bevere who is not shy about trotting out the party line, and like the others manages to seriously mangle Scripture in the effort to give delusional ideas some semblance of legitimacy.

John Bevere According to his web site, John Bevere, who is reported to have worked with Benny Hinn for a number of years, “delivers uncompromising truth through his award-winning curriculums and bestselling books, now in more than 60 languages, including The Bait of Satan, Drawing Near and Driven by Eternity. He is an international speaker and co-host of The Messenger TV program broadcast worldwide” [40] (John co-hosts the program with his wife Lisa).

He and his family attend New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO. pastored by Brady Boyd [41] who took over after Ted Haggard was dismissed. (Read one account of the shenanigans of a visiting evangelist to New Life Church during Ted Haggard’s time.. Hogan Not a Hero)

In his book The Fear of the Lord, Bevere calls Hosea 6:1-2 “ a prophetic Scripture describing God's refinement of His church in preparation for His glory. He has torn but He will heal. A day with the Lord is a thousand years (2 Peter 3:8)”.

Come, let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; and on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight." [Hosea 6:1-2]

However even stretching one’s imagination to it’s limits does not result in any connection between these words of Hosea and “God's refinement of His church in preparation for His glory”.

Wasilla Assembly of God SpeakersWhat is also true is that the Guest Speaker page on the Wasilla Assemblies of God web site shows close links to major leadership in the Third Wave movement [43] and is clear indication of their theological leanings… For example

Francis Frangipane was a guest speaker four times between June 12th and 14th 2009.

Thomas Muthee: And of course the infamous Bishop Thomas Muthee was featured several times in October 2005, and then again once in 2008.

Who is Thomas Muthee? In 2005, as Sarah Palin was starting her bid for the Alaska governor's seat, she was blessed, or "anointed", by an African cleric, prominent in the Third Wave movement, who has visited the Wasilla Assembly of God on several occasions. Muthee claims to have effected positive, dramatic social change in the Kenyan town of Kiambu by driving out a "spirit of witchcraft", after which the town’s crime rates supposedly dropped "almost to zero." A woman Muthee accused of causing that spirit was also driven out of town. The problem being that Kiambu, Kenyais still a notorious, violence-ridden suburb of Nairobi with a high rate of particularly atrocious crimes.

“…Kenyan minister Thomas Muthee not only praying over and blessing Sarah Palin, to advance her bid for the Alaska governorship and protect Palin from a "spirit of witchcraft", but, prior to the blessing, Muthee gave a seven to eight minute speech in which he called on believing Christians to "infiltrate" a number of key areas of secular society including Banking and finance, schools and education, media, politics and government. [38]

Another video shows Sarah Palin at an event in June praising the African preacher’s prayer as “awesome”, and “bold”. Pastor Ed Kalnins calls Muthee’s prayer …“making a prophetic declaration”, and also declares that Alaska is “one of the refuge states in the Last Days,” as “hundreds of thousands of people are going to come to this state to seek refuge, and the church has to be ready to minister to them”. [39]

On June 8, 2008 Palin was publicly blessed by "laying on of hands", during a Masters Commission graduation ceremony, by Pastor Ed Kalnins, Phil Markwardt of the Wasilla area Crossroads Community Church and the Kenyan pastor Thomas Muthee. Apparently both Kalnins and Markwardt have visited Muthee’s church in Kenya during which they distributed books by Rick Joyner, Francis Frangipane and John Bevere.

The photograph on the right shows Ed Kalnins and Thomas Muthee and Rick Joyner’s book, 50 Days For An Enduring Vision.

Dutch Sheetsand Mary Glazier were guest speakers on January 7th 2009. Sheets is not only C Peter Wagner’s pastor, but below his name on WAG’s guest page is a quote by Wagner..

“"God has His hand on America to bring our nation back into its proper alignment. I believe we are going to witness giant steps toward seeing our land reflect the kingdom of God in the very near future." C. Peter Wagner.

The section on Dutch Sheets says..

The idea of apostolic is not only to have a presence in a city or region, but actually to change the culture. That involves not just having church, but encouraging the people who are part of the church to become changers within their sphere of influence in their community, touching areas that include family, media, government, education, business, etc.”

Mary Glazier is the founder and president of Windwalkers International, the Alaska Director of the Global Apostolic Prayer Network, and an active member of the Anchorage Evangelical Pastors Fellowship, a network of over 90 pastors in Anchorage, Alaska. She currently works with Cindy Jacobs and Chuck Pierce on the U.S. Strategic Prayer Network and on the Mission America National Committee. Mary also serves as an advisor for the International Reconciliation Coalition. [44], and is also a member of the Apostolic Counsel of Prophetic Elders, convened annually by C. Peter Wagner. [45]

Mary Glazier told attendees at the “Opening the Gate of Heaven on Earth” conference, who represented many of the New Apostolic Reformation’s top leaders, that she had been present at the inception of Sarah Palin’s political career and that Palin was in her personal prayer group :

There was a twenty-four year old woman that God began to speak to about entering into politics. She became a part of our prayer group out in Wasilla. Years later, became the mayor of Wasilla. And last year was elected Governor of the state of Alaska. Yes! Hallelujah! At her inauguration she dedicated the state to Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

[The transcript of Mary Glazier’s June 13th speech can be read here… http://www.talk2action.org/story/2008/10/8/131445/630]

Charisma magazine caught up with Mary Glazier “on her way to a prayer meeting in Anchorage, the purpose of which was to pray specifically for Palin”.

This is nothing new, according to Glazier. "We actually began to pray for [Palin] before she became mayor of Wasilla," Glazier says. "We felt then that she was the one God had selected."

For several years, Glazier and other members of Windwalkers have prayed for Palin regularly—first when she was the mayor, then when she was the governor of Alaska, and when she was a vice presidential candidate. Last spring, Palin called Glazier and asked her to pray with her over the phone, and they met at the governor's prayer breakfast.

"She asked me to pray with her for wisdom and direction," Glazier recalls. "I sensed a real heart of surrender to the will of God in her. God often chooses the least likely people to be at the forefront, and I do believe that God has equipped [Palin] for this hour."

Glazier told Charisma that members of Windwalkers had received words of knowledge about Palin being "called to impact the nation." At that point, they had no idea she would be running for the office of vice president of the United States. [46]

Speaking at the Wasilla Assembly of God on January 7th 2009 Mary Glazier said… “As most of you know God has called me to stand in the gap for Alaska”, Adding that she has carried Alaska in her heart for as long as she could remember. Glazier then goes on to say that

“God said that Alaska was going to be full of the fire of the Holy Ghost and He also said that He is sending revival like we have never seen before (applause) and He said that this revival was going to be greater than any benchmark revival in history and that it was going to impact the entire nation and I saw Alaskans on fire shooting out all over the globe and everywhere they landed fire started… He said that the Eskimo people were going to rise up with fire in their belly and that they were going to shape the nation…

She caps it off by saying “We are the entry point for the Ancient of Days”.

>

This echoes a “prophecy” by Benn Hinn who said [January 6, 1991] [Emphasis Added]

"I see a fire in Alaska. I see a fire in that whole western area of Canada and Alaska. Alaska shall be INFLAMED with the Glory of God. Now there is something interesting here, something interesting. This is amazing. I don't know why. The Lord just said to me, "The judgment coming on America will not affect Alaska because praying believers will protect Alaska from judgment." [47]

By the way, praying believers are themselves shielded from God’s judgment on sin by Jesus’ sacrifice for sin. No believer can protect any other individual from judgment, leave alone a whole state. If this statement by Benny Hinn is true then why cannot praying believers in the other 49 states protect those too? Why should only Alaska be able to do this?

Paul Keith Davis, who calls William Branham “an extraordinarily gifted prophet” [48] was a Guest Speaker at Wasilla (by video) on the 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th of April 2009. His web site White Dove ministries was named so “after the Lord sovereignly sent a beautiful white dove to them as a prophetic sign of their calling”. Davis says “His heart’s desire is to see the full restoration of Biblical Apostolic ministry” [48b]

In late July and early August of 1995 Davis and his wife say they [Emphasis Added]

“were hosting a prophetic roundtable meeting at our home in Orange Beach, AL, approximately 18 miles west of Pensacola. Several respected prophetic voices were in attendance including Bob Jones, Bobby Conner, Rick Joyner and others…” [49]

Please Note that this took place less than three years after Bob Jones confessed to sexual misconduct with two women. See Footnotes inSection II:Manifest Sons of God

White Dove ministries also advertises a "Possessing Bridal Inheritance Conference." Scheduled for February 25th-27th, 2010 in Tucson, AZ. For the low price of $70.00 per couple you will have the extremely dubious honor of hearing Paul Keith Davis and Chuck Pierce speak. [50].

Lance Wallnau was a Guest Speaker at Wasilla on June 7 2009. He is advertised as

“… a recognized leader in the field of personal and organizational transformation. He directs the Lance Learning Group, a company dedicated to helping believers impact secular spheres by fully actualizing their gifts talents and skills within the sphere of their professional life.”

Prophetic TV” advertises an interview with Lance saying his…

teaching on The 7 Mountain Strategy, which explores seven strategic areas of influence in society which shape the culture of every nation, and how a great world harvest can be reaped if Christians will infiltrate and capture these vital "mountains." [51]

Wallnau will be a speaker at Rick Joyner’s New Year’s Conference scheduled for December 29-31 2009 at MorningStar Fellowship Church in Fort Mill SC. [52]

**************

So having established that this movement has invaded mainstream Christianity to an extent that far exceeds what common sense and the Scriptures would allow, lets take another look at these apostles. Or should I say this enormous motley collection of apostles that has exploded onto center stage.

21st Century Vertical and Horizontal “Apostles”In an article titled, Understanding How Apostles Minister in Different Spheres, Wagner says “The current apostolic movement is so new, and it is developing at such a dizzying speed, that a considerable amount of confusion has arisen”. He then therefore endeavors to “help dispel the confusion” by using “Terminology that accurately describes current apostolic phenomena”

In reality, while his terminology may “accurately describe current apostolic phenomena”, it takes a very simple concept in Scripture to new levels of pretension and pomposity. Here is an example of their complicated gobbledygook. All the various types of apostles are listed under two headings… Vertical and Horizontal apostles..

Vertical: Under the heading of Vertical Apostles, Wagner lists Ecclesiastical apostles, Functional apostles, Apostolic Team Members and Congregational apostles with a short and completely ridiculous description of the function of each.

Horizontal: Under the heading of Horizontal Apostles, he lists Convening apostles, Ambassadorial apostles, Mobilizing apostles, Marketplace Apostles (some of whom are vertical while others are horizontal) and of course the Territorial apostles or “Apostles who have been given authority for leading a certain segment of the body of Christ in a given territorial sphere such as a city or state”.

Wagner himself “functions as a horizontal apostle within a sphere of recognized apostles” therefore does not “provide apostolic 'covering' or accountability as a vertical apostle.” [53] Here is how he describes it

“yesterday I was the apostle with a group of about 15-20 prophets we met all day long, and these prophets many of whom are going to be speakers in this conference come under my guidance coordination and leadership as an apostle, they each have apostles in their own networks but I mean there under spiritually. But I’m the one that brings them together and when I bring them together things happen. Because that’s an anointing that God has given to horizontal apostles. So once I knew, then I knew I was different from these people and I knew I was a horizontal; apostle and I began using the um term in public” (54]

In other words he is the behind-the-scenes apostle who organizes and empowers the "vertical" apostles within his loosely knit organizations.

Apostolic Networks: And to further complicate matters, there are even more types of apostles listed on the web site of Watchman Ministries International, founded by Tim Taylor and his wife Brenda. He says they

were called into the ministry after his return from Desert Storm”, during which “the Lord imparted a vision to Tim regarding coming events in the body of Christ”..

Accordingly they founded Watchman Ministries International in 1992

“with a vision to “declare” the coming revelation of God as the “Lord of Hosts” and with a mandate to “prepare” His church to function together as an army” [55]

In September 17, 2009, Tim Taylor, who is a member of the International Coalition of Apostles, said that he has “been very blessed by the teaching of Apostle John Kelly … the founding apostle of the International Coalition of Apostles”. Taylor then outlines “The Eight Major Types of Apostolic Networks”, which are

“What does Apostle Kelly mean by mystical? He means it does not exist! There is no real structure, government, commitment or purpose to this type of network. It has no apostolic validity. Usually a false apostle or an emerging, unskilled, untaught apostle heads this up. This type of network is little more than a whole lot of talk” [56]

Which, I am afraid to say, describes every single one of them…

I have searched the Scriptures in vain for any possible reference to Marketplace, Ambassadorial apostles or even anything that could be considered as a Mini-Denominational Apostolic Network etc, but can only find that … The New Testament simply speaks of... apostles….

Section IV..Are There Apostles and Prophets Today?The last few decades have seen an exponential increase in the numbers of those brazen enough not only use the title of Apostle, but deluded enough to believe they are building foundation of the Kingdom. Those bold enough to claim the mantle of modern apostleship are, in effect, claiming an unparalleled authority, with the words “government” and “submission” being used with increasing regularity. These claims mean that every Christian really needs to take a deeper look at the New Testament apostolic ministry in it’s totality, starting with the most important question of all.. What was the function of the New Testament Apostle? Nor do we dare forget that no structure can have two foundations. The first will have to be done away with before the other can be laid, which I am afraid to say is exactly what these modern apostles wish to do.

[54] C. Peter Wagner. Mobilizing The Prophetic Office, May 11, 2000 National School of The Prophets. As quoted in Let Us Reason Ministries …The “New Apostolic” church movement. http://www.letusreason.org/Latrain21.htm